Sleeping bag with removable stroller cover

ABSTRACT

A sleeping bag includes a removable top blanket that converts into a single panel stroller cover. The removable blanket includes a fleece panel and drawstring forming a pouch that tucks under the edge of the stroller seat or footrest. The removable blanket further includes straps to attach the top to the side rails of the stroller.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of children's sleeping bags and blankets for use in conjunction with seats for children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A sleeping bag is a large padded bag designed to be slept in. A bunting bag, similar to a sleeping bag, is a thick, warm garment for a baby that is shaped like a sleeping bag to cover the baby's body and legs, and usually includes a hood. Sleeping bags (or bunting bags) for use by children may have slits or openings in the back through which harnesses (such as from strollers and car seats) or seatbelts may pass through in order to allow safe use of the sleeping bag in child strollers, car seats and automobiles.

The sleeping bags disclosed in the prior art fit directly in the child's seat of the stroller, car seat or carrier. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,724 discloses a multipurpose baby wrap for use in conjunction with an infant seat. The multipurpose baby wrap has openings to receive each of the restraining straps of infant seat. U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,405 shows a baby safety bag for use in conjunction with an automobile baby seat or stroller, the bag having openings through the back portion spaced for seatbelts or harness straps of the baby seat or stroller. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,105,168 and 6,012,189 show a bunting bag shaped to fit within an infant seat, wherein the back portion of the bunting bag is contoured to the shape of the infant seat and also has a plurality of openings sized and located to receive the restraining straps of the infant seat.

In each case in the prior art, the whole of the sleeping bag or bunting bag is set within the car seat, stroller or carrier. Typically, the back portion of the sleeping bag tends to bunch up in the child's seat, or in any event reduces the amount of space available for the child to properly fit within the seat provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is embodied in a sleeping bag with a removable top piece that attaches to a child's seat (such as for example a child's seat in a stroller) and functions as blanket.

In particular, a child's sleeping bag in accordance with the present invention includes a removable top blanket that converts into a single panel stroller cover. The removable blanket includes fasteners at the side portions thereof for attachment to the side rails of the stroller. The removable blanket further includes means at the bottom portion thereof for fastening the bottom portion to or under the edge of the stroller seat or child's footrest. In one embodiment, the bottom portion of the removable blanket includes fleece panel and drawstring forming a pouch that tucks under the edge of the stroller seat or child's footrest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a sleeping bag with removable stroller cover in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an interior view of the back portion of a sleeping bag with removable stroller cover in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an interior view of the front portion of the sleeping bag with removable stroller cover in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the top portion of the sleeping bag attached to a child's stroller as a single panel stroller covered in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A child's sleeping bag 10 in FIG. 1 comprises a back portion 12 and a front portion 20. The front portion 20 attaches to the back portion 12 by a pair of zippers 26, 28 allowing a flap 20A to fold down exposing the child's face. A third zipper 16 joins two edges of the back portion to form a hood 14.

The back portion 12 of the sleeping bag 10 is shown in further detail in FIG. 2. First and second tapes of zipper teeth 16A, 16B, are attached to the top edges of the back portion 12. Slider 16C meshes the first tape of zipper teeth 16A to the second tape of zipper teeth 16B so as to form the hood portion 14. Openings 18A, 18B and 18C are provided in the back portion 12 to allow seat straps, harness and/or seat belts to pass through the back portion 12. A first tape of zipper teeth 26A is attached to one side of the back portion 12. A second tape of zipper teeth 28A is attached to the other side and continues around the bottom edge of the back portion 12.

The front portion 20 of the sleeping bag 10 is shown in further detail in FIG. 3. A third tape of zipper teeth 26B and slider 26C is attached to one side of the front portion 20. A fourth tape of zipper teeth 28B and slider 38C is attached to the other side of the front portion 20. The tape of zipper teeth 28B continues around the bottom edge of the front portion 20. To join the front 20 and back portion 12 together, slider 26C meshes the first tape of zipper teeth 26A to the second tape of zipper teeth 26B, while slider 28C meshes the third tape of zipper teeth 28A to the fourth tape of zipper teeth 28B. The use of two zippers 26, 28 provides flexibility in opening the sleeping bag 10 to provide ventilation. Alternatively, one zipper with one or more two-way sliders could be used to join the sides and bottom of the front portion 20 to the back portion 12.

The front portion 20 also contains features to permit it to function as a removable stroller cover 20 (as shown in FIG. 4). In particular, the front portion 20 has a first strap 22 with snap fasteners 22A on one side, and a second strap 24 with snap fasteners 24A on the other side. At the interior bottom (foot region) of the front portion 20 is a fabric panel (which may be fleece fabric) sewn along the sides and bottom to the front portion to form a pouch 30 open at the top edge 32. The top edge 32 of the pouch 30 is folded over to form a fabric channel containing a drawstring 34 and locking mechanism.

For use as a removable stroller blanket, the top portion 20 of the sleeping bag 10 is removed from the bottom portion 12. Then, removable stroller blanket 20 is attached to a stroller as shown in FIG. 4. The lower portion of the stroller seat 40 and/or the footrest 42 is inserted into the pouch 30. The drawstring 34 is pulled tight and locked with locking mechanism 36 to hold the lower portion of the removable stroller blanket 20 to the stroller seat 40 and footrest 42 of the stroller 44.

The use of the pouch 30 tucked under the seat 40 or footrest 42 provides a good seal to the stroller and prevents cold air from entering the stroller seat 40 at the bottom edge of the removable blanket 20.

At the top, the removable blanket 20 is attached to the stroller rails 44A and 44B. In particular, strap 22 wraps around stroller rail 44A and is fastened to itself via snap closures 22A (the snap closures are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3). Similarly, strap 24 wraps around stroller rail 44B and is fastened to itself via snap closures 24A (the snap closures are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3). The top of the removable blanket 20 folds forward to form a flap 20A to expose the child's face.

It should be understood that while some of the fasteners described herein are specifically indicated as either zippers or snap closures, these fasteners may be interchanged with each other or with other types of fasteners (e.g. buttons or hook and loop (i.e., Velcro)) may be substituted without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. A cover comprising: a first blanket having first and second side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge; a first fastener means attached to said first side edge; a second fastener means attached to said second side edge; a third fastener means attached to said bottom edge; and a fabric panel attached at said bottom edge of said blanket and sewn at the sides to said blanket so as to form a pouch having a top edge not attached to said removable blanket.
 2. A cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pouch further comprises a drawstring at the top edge of said pouch.
 3. A cover in accordance with claim 2, further comprising fourth fastening means attached to a side edge of said removable cover.
 4. A cover in accordance with claim 3, wherein said fourth fastening means attached to said side edges of said cover comprises a strap and snap closures.
 5. A cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said first, second and third fastener means comprises a tape of zipper teeth.
 6. A cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said first, second and third fastener means comprises a hook and loop fastener.
 7. A cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said first, second and third fastener means comprises snap closures.
 8. A sleeping bag comprising: a first blanket having respective first and second side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge; a first fastener means attached to said first side edge of said first blanket; a second fastener means attached to said second side edge of said first blanket; a third fastener means attached to said bottom edge of said first blanket; a fabric panel attached at said bottom edge of said first blanket and sewn at the sides to said first blanket so as to form a pouch having a top edge not attached to said removable blanket; a second blanket having respective first and second side edges and a bottom edge; a fourth fastener means attached to said first side edge of said second blanket; a fifth fastener means attached to said second side edge of said second blanket; and a sixth fastener means attached to said bottom edge of said second blanket, wherein said first fastener is coupled to said fourth fastener, said second fastener is coupled to said fifth fastener and said third fastener is coupled to said sixth fastener.
 9. A cover in accordance with claim 8, wherein said pouch further comprises a drawstring at the top edge of said pouch.
 10. A cover in accordance with claim 9, further comprising seventh fastening means attached to said side edges of said removable cover.
 11. A cover in accordance with claim 10, wherein said seventh fastening means attached to said side edges of said cover comprises a strap and snap closures.
 12. A cover in accordance with claim 8, wherein one of said first, second and third fastener means comprises a tape of zipper teeth.
 13. A cover in accordance with claim 8, wherein one of said first, second and third fastener means comprises a hook and loop fastener.
 14. A cover in accordance with claim 8, wherein one of said first, second and third fastener means comprises snap closures.
 15. A combination comprising: a stroller having first and second side rails, a child seat and footrest; a first blanket having first and second side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge; a first fastener means attached to said first side edge; a second fastener means attached to said second side edge; a third fastener means attached to said bottom edge; and a fabric panel attached at said bottom edge of said blanket and sewn at the sides to said blanket so as to form a pouch having a top edge not attached to said removable blanket, wherein at least a portion of said child seat and footrest is disposed within said pouch.
 16. A combination in accordance with claim 15, wherein said pouch further comprises a drawstring at the top edge of said pouch.
 17. A cover in accordance with claim 2, further comprising fourth fastening means attached to one of said first and second side edges of said removable cover wherein said fourth fastening means couples said first blanket to one of said first and second side rails respectively of said stroller. 